Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation and destruction. It negatively impacts the performance of everyday routine movements and activities. Rheumatoid Arthritis results in stiffness, swelling, and fatigue which significantly impacts the patient’s quality of life and elevates the burden on the healthcare system. The effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis continue throughout the patient’s lifetime, chronicling the need for lifelong therapy. The effectiveness of traditional therapy is inadequate in changing the progressive nature of the disease and its symptoms. Patients remain in search of other novel therapies to assist in regaining the lost mobility within the joints. Once fully realized, advanced UC-MSCs therapies have the potential to dramatically shift the symptomatic and progressive state of autoimmune diseases. Instead of masking symptoms and exacerbating the disease, advanced biological therapies aim at curing the imbalanced immune system. Due to the complexity of the biological imbalanced system, the safest and most appropriate venue to treat patients is a progressive and modern Stem Cell Clinic.
The pathology in Rheumatoid Arthritis starts with the immune system’s aberration and identification of the synovial tissues as foreign. The infiltration of macrophages and T-Lymphocytes becomes a source of pro-inflammatory cytokines including Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, and various forms of interleukins. The stimulation of osteoclasts results in the erosion of bone and the destruction of the cartilage matrix due to cleavage of the proteoglycans by fibroblasts and the formation of pseudo-synovial tissue, which invades the joint. The invention of UC-MSCs to stop the progression of the disease at a Stem Cell Clinic is based on modifying the patient’s immune system. Though T cells usually help maintain immune tolerance, in Rheumatoid Arthritis their function becomes severely restricted. Emerging UC-MSCs therapies seek to restore this balance. A Stem Cell Clinic uses them to target sites of inflammation, allowing controlled immune modulation at the location of interest.
Current Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments in modern medicine primarily consist of disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), co-administered with NSAIDS. DMARDs, and most frequently Methotrexate, target the hyperactive immune response as the first pharmacological line. Biologic agents which impede cellular signaling of inflammation are a mainstay in modern treatment options. These treatment options and pain management are unfortunately time limited. Systemic anti-inflammatory treatments pose an increased risk of severe opportunistic infections, and more unfortunately, gastrointestinal and hepatic and even hematological toxicities. This results in an unwanted treatment resistance, requiring the constant rotation of the limited arsenal of available treatments. These treatments not only fail to promote the healing of inflamed synovial tissue, but also continue to permit the ongoing progressive deterioration of the patients quality of life due to the continued permanent disability of the patient. Unlike UC-MSCs at a Stem Cell Clinic, current medical treatments cannot heal damaged cartilage.
At a Stem Cell Clinic, umbilical-derived mesenchymal cells (UC-MSCs) not only possess the ability to heal Rheumatoid Arthritis, but also possess the ability to heal synovial tissue, and promote immunological balance. UC-MSCs possess the unique ability to heal synovial tissue due to their inherent capacity to secrete a large reserve of bioactive signaling molecules and promote an anti-inflammatory immune response by their resident extracellular matrix (ECM). UC-MSCs promote the healing of inflamed tissue via their inherent ability to secrete Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFβ) along with other resident immunomodulatory proteins and promote the reprogramming of pro-inflammatory pathogenic macrophages into alternative macrophages via their ECM.
UC-MSCs also generate regulatory T cells that aid the suppression of the Rheumatoid Arthritis assault on the joints. These differ from synthetic medications, as these cells further the actual repair process on the damaged joint surfaces. These cells promote the healing of joint surfaces by encouraging the production of cartilage by the chondrocytes. A Stem Cell Clinic adhering to the highest standards ensures patients receive cellular products that are well characterized and that possess low immunogenicity. This low immunogenicity helps in the safe therapeutic application of the cells, as they do not cause a detrimental and hostile reaction to the therapeutic cells.
Figure 1: Comparisons of Current medicine and UC-MSCs therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis
The developing medical field of Southeast Asia demonstrates a particular interest in advanced regenerative therapies. Of the countries in that region, Thailand has become an attractive destination for innovative medical practices. Thailand has a sophisticated health service system as well as a highly skilled work force focused on cellular research. Regenerative medicine is a rapidly developing field in Thailand due to supportive government regulations. This field develops UC-MSCs therapeutic treatments for complex Rheumatoid Arthritis and attracts international patients as a result of the lack of comparable therapies in the patients’ countries. A Stem Cell Clinic here is good, and patients receive highest quality care at a reasonable cost. Local universities work closely with international research institutions to ensure that the highest quality research is done and the most advanced techniques are applied to patient care.
Advanced UC-MSCs therapies must be embraced to treat the complex nature of autoimmune diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, which damages joint surfaces and requires the repair of tissue at a Stem Cell Clinic. The unique combination of immune regulatory and restorative properties of UC-MSCs makes these cells very exciting as a potential therapeutic product. Patients visiting the appropriate Stem Cell Clinic will have an opportunity to radically stop the progress of Rheumatoid Arthritis. As progress is made in the field, the scope of use of these technologies will expand even more. The Southeast Asian center has the potential to be the frontrunner in this medical advancement by offering the ability to use new, safe, and innovative medical technologies. By using these advanced regenerative medical technologies, the Chronic Pain Management and Rehabilitation Center will be able to restore movement and relieve pain, and improve the quality of life of many people around the world.